Neighbors: Franklin County’s seasonal events abound

Well, we celebrated the unofficial beginning of fall this weekend, though it felt more like mid-summer with the temperature and humidity.

Now we look ahead to all of the wonderful events Franklin County offers us throughout autumn.

In two or three days, most of us will be headed to the Franklin County Fair for its delicious fair food, including that delectable fried dough, scrumptious homemade favorites, fun rides and interesting exhibits.

The fair will kick off Thursday night with the parade and will continue throughout the weekend, ending with the ever-popular demolition derby.

In October we’ll have lots of choices, including Scarecrow in the Park in Bernardston, the annual Franklin County Pumpkinfest in Turners Falls and, of course, the “festival that stinks,” the 15th annual Garlic and Arts Festival in Orange.

The Franklin County Fair will be held Thursday through Sunday, the Garlic and Arts Festival will be held Oct. 5 and 6, the Franklin County Pumpkinfest will be held Oct. 19 and Scarecrow in the Park will be held Oct. 26. I’ll tell you more about each as the time nears.

For now, have a nice week and start thinking about which, if not all, you’d like to attend.

SPEAKING OF THE FC FAIR, the Franklin County beekeepers have just completed rebuilding their booth in the Roundhouse. Carpentry was done by Susie and Jon Russell of Deerfield. The new look features pine walls, new shelves and cabinets, wheelchair accessibility and special backlighting to show off the color and beauty of the winning honey entries in this year’s honey and beeswax show.

The beekeepers would like to invite all of us to stop and check things out this year. They will also be selling raffle tickets to win a gift basket, which will be on display.

ALSO, OUR NEIGHBOR HELEN GOULD of Gould’s Farm and Restaurant in Shelburne will again supervise the Apple Pie Contest for the 165th Franklin County Fair.

Helen would like to round up as many entries as possible this year for the contest that will be held on Saturday in the fair’s Tower Gates.

She said there were 33 entries last year. So, start baking and join the contest this year — you never know.

Those who decide to make a pie, or pies, for the contest should have them at the fairgrounds between 8:15 and 8:45 a.m. on Saturday. Judging will begin at 9 a.m.

And when the contest is over? The pies that are not picked will be given to the Salvation Army for its meals program. How nice!

The contest is open to men and women.

THE SHELBURNE FALLS AREA WOMEN’S CLUB will have a “Celestial Potluck” on Sept. 11 beginning at 7:30 p.m. in Fellowship Hall (Shelburne Grange) in Shelburne Center.

The Shelburne Falls Area Women’s Club 2013-2014 theme is “Remarkable Women of the Pioneer Valley.” This year the club will highlight women who have excelled in the fields of history, music, science, art, education and literature.

On Sept. 11, the club will present Karen Shepard, local author of “The Celestials,” which is about the Chinese laborers who were brought to North Adams in 1870. Its themes deal with immigration, multiculturalism, labor, community and exclusion.

OUR OWN BETH REYNOLDS has received a $2,000 award from the American Express for Photography Project.

Beth, who is a photographer (part-time for The Recorder), educator and owner of Base Camp Photo in Greenfield, won the award for her project, “Camera Clubs in Nursing Homes.” Beth wrote 100 words and submitted a photograph taken in her mother’s nursing home.

“I have a strong desire not only to take pictures, but to share the experiences of my subjects, and hopefully to give something back to them through photography and improve their lives.”

A panel of qualified judges reviewed all of the submission and selected 10 entrants based on creativity and originality, quality of submission, and fit to contest theme.

Congratulations Beth!

To contact Anita Fritz, a staff reporter at The Recorder, send an email to: franklincountyneighbors@gmail.com or call 413-772-0261, ext. 280. You can also reach Anita on Facebook at Anita’s Neighbors. Information to be included in Neighbors may also be sent to: neighbors@recorder.com up to noon two days before you want it to run.